About Rik Leaf

Rik is a Performer/Producer/Author/Slam Poet who has spent 18 years producing award winning CDs, TV shows, short films, podcasts and books. He's the founder of the National Artist Collective, Tribe of One, featuring First Nations, Metis, French/English musicians, dancers, painters and poets and the author of Four Homeless Millionaires - An Odyssey of Adventure and Discovery.

Winner of the Spirit of Canada Songwriting Competition, 2011.

Nominated for the Winnipeg Art Council ‘Making a Difference’ award in 2009

“Everyone thinks they know the truth behind Christmas, but they don’t know the half of it; if they did, they’d never look at Christmas the same,” said a deep voice rumbling from the depths of a bulbous silhouette. That was how I ended up under an overpass at midnight huddled in the freezing cold.

What you tell yourself is the most powerful thing in the world. If you believe it, it doesn’t even matter if it’s really true. Average, ordinary people overcome incredible odds every day because they believe they can. Exceptionally gifted people sputter and fail because they believe they can’t. It’s weird.

I’d spent months drafting an initiative to engage the emerging electorate. On my way to her constituency office, I saw the Member of Parliament walking her dog. I jumped out of my van, strolled up bold as can be and asked her if she believed in serendipity. When she said she did, I showed her the large manila envelope in my hand with her name on it. She gave me five minutes to give her my best pitch. It was more than enough time to get her onboard.